Victor, thank you for your tips, I've been told Legacy is the 
Cadillac of genealogy softwear and I will keep it in mind as my next 
purchase of genealogy tools. My computer skills are limited and it's 
a learn as I go project.  I just started using the Family Tree 
program that allows me to put in people who are not related to each 
other so that when I can tie in a line I only have to merge them, 
what a blessing that has been!
thanks again, Linda

--- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, "v.h.villarreal" 
<raices_regias@y...> wrote:
>
> Linda,
> 
> I have developed a somewhat similar system but I make use of a
> function built into my genealogy software (Legacy) where I print 
out a
> "source citation report".  Of course this requires that everytime 
you
> find a record on the IGI and make an entry in your genealogy 
database
> that you record the batch number AND the date of the event as a 
source. 
> 
> With your source citation report on hand you just sort by
> chronological order the entries grouped by source (batch number). 
> Then, when you get a chance to review the microfilm of each batch
> number you just locate each date from your report in a forward
> sequence, take a picture (or transcribe the manuscript) and move to
> the next, etc.
> 
> The ideal thing would be to read the whole book from start to 
finish
> but the circumstances usually make it impractical if not 
impossible. 
> This is a very efficient method to get your records fast.  Let's 
say
> you need some 20 or 30 records from a microfilm you can get them in
> about an hour.
> 
> Hope this helps someone.  The key is entering the batch number and 
the
> event's date with each ancestor record, and then use your 
software. 
> The question is if the software you're using has this reporting
> capability.
> 
> Victor Villarreal
> Reynosa, Mexico
> 
> --- In ranchos@yahoogroups.com, "Erlinda Castanon-Long"
> <longsjourney@y...> wrote:
> >
> > I have started using the batch numbers to do the groundwork 
before 
> > going to the FHC to read the actual films.  There are so many 
> > entries that are smeared or too light to read that having them 
read 
> > by someone else has been a Godsend. In doing marriage records 
for 
> > Tamazula the online batch # gave me a marriage for my ancestor 
> > Benito Gutierrez that I never would have been able to read on my 
> > own. I allow for misspelled names and missing dates.  There are 
> > times when I know I will have to order the film a second time 
but 
> > when time is an issue pulling all the surnames I'm researching 
with 
> > the % and a surname has saved the day more than once. Now when I 
go 
> > to read the film I've already started my record with dates and 
names 
> > in sequence so I do them first and then go back and do the 
complete 
> > record a second time. I always order at least 2 films because 
one 
> > usually is being used by someone else and I've waited up to 2 
months 
> > for a film to arrive or as little as 8 days. 
> > My husband is a contract worker so we've lived in 12 states in 
the 
> > last 10 years so there are times when I am trying to get as much 
> > information for my family lines as possible so time and 
availability 
> > can sometimes be an issue for me. If I'm in an area where there 
is 
> > no history center I have my groundwork done with the batch #'s 
and 
> > ready to go the next time I'm lucky enough to find a city with a 
> > center.
> > Any other tips to help use the resources available to us?
> > Linda in Everett
> >
>